Aznida Firzah Abdul Aziz

Nor Azah Aziz

Saperi Sulong

Syed Mohamed Aljunid

BMC Public Health

English

PubMed

Aznida Abdul Aziz

Nor Aziz

Syed Aljunid

Springer - Publisher Connector

MEETING ABSTRACT Open Access
The post discharge stroke care services in
Malaysia: a pilot analysis of self-reported
practices of family medicine specialists
at public health centres
Aznida Firzah Abdul Aziz1,2*, Nor Azah Aziz2, Saperi Sulong3, Syed Mohamed Aljunid1
From 6th Postgraduate Forum on Health Systems and Policies
Melaka, Malaysia. 21-22 May 2012
Background
The care of post discharge stroke patients worldwide is
fragmented. For developing countries, lack of guidelines
upon discharge from tertiary care and access to specialised
care complicates provision of optimal care. Albeit short-
comings, primary care continues to provide care in less
than favourable circumstances. This study aimed to evalu-
ate practices of Family Medicine Specialists (FMS) in
managing post discharge stroke patients at primary care
level.
Materials and methods
A semi structured self-administered questionnaire was
distributed among FMS servicing public funded health
centres. The questionnaire assessed estimated stroke
care burden, current service provision and opinion on
service improvement. Descriptive and qualitative ana-
lyses were done.
Results
Total of 59 completed questionnaires were analysed. For
every 100 patients seen by FMS’ at public health centres
each month, 2 patients have stroke. Median number of
stroke patients seen per month was 5 (IQR 2-10). Fifty
seven percent of the respondents estimated total stroke
patients treated per year at each centre was less than
40 patients. As high as 72.4% did not have a standard
care plan although 96.6% agreed one was needed and
would improve quality of post stroke care. Patients seen
were: discharged from tertiary care (88.1%), shared care
plan with specialists (67.8%) and patients who developed
stroke during follow up at primary care (64.4%). Follow-
up was done at 8-12 weekly intervals (60.3%) with only
3.4% on as needed basis. Referrals ranked in order of
frequency were to physiotherapy services, dietitian and
speech and language pathologists in public facilities. The
FMS perceived 4 important factors in managing stroke
patients at primary care level; need for access to rehabi-
litation services, coordinated care between tertiary cen-
tres and primary care using multidisciplinary care
approach, need for a stroke care guideline and availabil-
ity of family and caregiver support services.
Conclusions
Post discharge stroke care guidelines and access to rehabili-
tation services at primary care are needed for optimal deliv-
ery of care to patients residing at home in the community.
Author details
1United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. 2Department of Family Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
3Health Information Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical
Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Published: 27 November 2012
doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-S2-A1
Cite this article as: Abdul Aziz et al.: The post discharge stroke care
services in Malaysia: a pilot analysis of self-reported practices of family
medicine specialists at public health centres. BMC Public Health 2012
12(Suppl 2):A1.
1United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Abdul Aziz et al. BMC Public Health 2012, 12(Suppl 2):A1
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/S2/A1
© 2012 Abdul Aziz et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


The post discharge stroke care services in Malaysia: a pilot analysis of self-reported practices of family medicine specialists at public health centres

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The post discharge stroke care services in Malaysia: a pilot analysis of self-reported practices of family medicine specialists at public health centres

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